Forest Dreams, Forest Nightmares: The Paradox of Old Growth in the Inland West

Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books

by Nancy Langston, William Cronon (Foreword)

Across the inland West, forests that once seemed like paradise have turned into an ecological nightmare. Fires, insect epidemics, and disease now threaten millions of acres of once-bountiful forests. Yet no one can agree what went wrong. Was it too much management--or not enough--that forced the forests of the inland West to the verge of collapse? Is the solution more logging, or no logging at all? In this gripping work of scientific and historical detection, Nancy Langston unravels the disturbing history of what went wrong with the western forests, despite the best intentions of those involved.

Focusing on the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington, she explores how the complex landscapes that so impressed settlers in the nineteenth century became an ecological disaster in the late twentieth. Federal foresters, intent on using their scientific training to stop exploitation and waste, suppressed light fires in the ponderosa pinelands. Hoping to save the forests, they could not foresee that their policies would instead destroy what they loved. When light fires were kept out, a series of ecological changes began. Firs grew thickly in forests once dominated by ponderosa pines, and when droughts hit, those firs succumbed to insects, diseases, and eventually catastrophic fires.

Nancy Langston combines remarkable skills as both scientist and writer of history to tell this story. Her ability to understand and bring to life the complex biological processes of the forest is matched by her grasp of the human forces at work--from Indians, white settlers, missionaries, fur trappers, cattle ranchers, sheep herders, and railroad builders to timber industry and federal forestry managers.

The book will be of interest to a wide audience of environmentalists, historians, ecologists, foresters, ranchers, and loggers--and all people who want to understand the changing lands of the West.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

384 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Marie Mimosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this in2017 and i still think of it to this day

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because my dad gave it to me. A pine tree is a pine tree is a pine tree, so when I get a book about slivics, I spend a lot of time considering how much debt I am in to the book giver. My dad is a forester and the science of cutting trees kept me in food and books so I forced myself to open the book, and I am (mostly) glad that I did.

Forest Dreams Forest Nightmares was a unique read about the long view of modern science and the last 100 years relationship between humans and the Blues. Nancy Langston's historical approach shows the reader how changing values and priorities of humans changes how we define 'good forestry management" and even 'good science.' She paints a complete picture of the many components of a forest to show that in nature, there is no good or bad, only resiliency. She's an exceptional writer and presents a diverse perspectives how people have tried uses science to cultivate good forest and ranges. It's a thought provoking read that probably helped me round out my understanding by sadly it ruined a small part of my childhood. I realized that Ponderosa was probably all lies. The Cartwrights were exceptional ranchers and businessmen which means they would had to be pretty cutthroat towards sheep and buffalo and larch pines. The trees most likely mystically killed their women to keep their kind from procreating.

[Abby Elsbernd]

good at first, then sorta dense/unorganized feeling

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

An academic book, so not an easy read. The story of what happened with a fores in eastern Oregon & Washington (The Blue Mountains) and how everthing the Forest Service knows is right to do has unintended consequences, usually resulting in unhealthy monoculture forests that perhaps are not even the type of trees they wanted to grow. I wish Senator Daines would read this.

[Gabrielle]

Just started this book. As the focus of book is the controversial history of forestry in the Blue mountains of Oregon (where we're about to live), I am really digging it, so far.